Bohlin, Christer

Abstract [en]

The defence will in Sweden 1963-2009

One country population’s will to defend itself is discussed in this survey. How has the defence will changed since the 1960’s up till today, and why it is that way? Earlier researches show that Sweden has a population who is willing to defend their country, even if the number of the ones willing changes year to year. This survey will try to describe the defence will in Sweden over the years, and what it is that affects the defence will.

The main question is: How can the changes in the Swedish defence will from 1963 to 2009 be explained form the yearly public surveys made by ‘Styrelsen för psykologiskt försvar’ (The Board of Psychological Defence)?

The survey will be conducted using a quantitative method where tables and charts will be constructed using data made by SPF) yearly public surveys. The prominent researcher Gertie Elsässer wrote a doctoral dissertation in 1987 where she made a comparison between the population’s will to defend their country and the population’s belief in the future. This hypothesis will be tested in this survey regarding the period from 1975 to 2009, as well as a comparison between the population’s defence will and their belief in the future and how it correlates. The survey’s results suggest that the population’s belief in the future and their willingness to defend their country is not always correlating. The willingness to defend ones country can be altered with an increase of the population’s confidence in the defence.